As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about………more entertainment this holiday season! While I love walking the course with my Nick while he plays a round of golf, cheering on his hockey team (anything can happen at the face off), and watching Amanda and her teammates compete floor, vault, bars and beam, there is something comforting about sitting in a dark theater, popcorn and licorice in hand, losing yourself in a great picture.

We are a movie loving family, so getting to the show is a real treat. Of course, with family life being so hectic and complicated, we go weeks, sometimes months, at a time without a proper movie fix. Being the parents of busy teenagers certainly doesn’t allow for much free time. Apparently, we have a revolving front door; kids and friends are forever meandering in and out. And we love every minute of it! That’s the thing though; you’re on call 24/7. They require constant supervision. When the kids were little, it was so much easier. Every weekend, our Mary Poppins would pal around with Frick and Frack, as Chuck affectionately referred to them, so we could make our escape. Ah, to feel human!

This past Saturday night, Chuck and I had a pretty sweet deal. Amanda was on an overnight-in-Chicago-adventure with Rosebud, while Nick was at his pals to watch the big game (whatever that was). Wrigley can be relied upon not to have a gaggle of fiends over while we’re out, but he’s iffy on staying away from the Christmas tree. We decided to take our chances.

At the top of my list was The Fighter (not too unlike The Wrestler, which was also amazing. I was totally pulling for Mickey Rourke to win the Academy Award two years ago. That Sean Penn has more than enough awards, and FYI; Milk was so boring! Besides, he’ll always be Jeff Spicoli to me.). Mark “Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch” Wahlberg turns out a completely solid and heartfelt performance as “Irish” Micky Ward, a down on his luck junior welterweight boxer. Poor Micky doesn’t stand much of a chance with his mother, Alice Ward, as his manager and his has been, crack addicted brother, Dicky Eklund, as his trainer. Christian Bale (a fantastic Batman, though Michael Keaton still gets my vote. You know I’m a sucker for nostalgia.) is remarkable in his portrayal of the troubled Dicky.

The only other boxing movies I’ve ever seen were Rocky (the entire franchise. Yo Adrienne.) and Raging Bull. Plus I did see the play Billy Elliot, but that probably doesn’t count. I’m not a huge fan of all the violence in boxing (this from the mother of a hockey player), but the essence of the story is the triumph of the human spirit. It was absolutely inspiring. I am, however, easily distracted and loved listening to their Boston accents. I kept hoping they would say, “I pah-cked the cah in Hah-vad yahd” or “Nomah Gah-cia-Pah-ra.” But, no such luck. I had to settle for a rare two hours, well spent, at the movies.

More nights out, more amazing movies, more awe inspiring entertainment…..